Photo Friday – Misty Morning

Welcome to another edition of Photo Friday! Perhaps because I have so many plans for this year with regard to photography, I’m having difficulty getting myself together and actually shooting. Does that ever happen to you? I definitely am feeling some overwhelm, which is actually the last thing that I want hanging around. Kinda like riding a bike, though, photography is always patiently waiting for me and doesn’t make it too difficult to dive right in.

One of the things that I have long intended to do is make it out in the early morning to shoot the sunrise. Each morning on my way to work, I drive over the bayou and think to myself, “Man! That is gorgeous! I need to stop and capture it.” I never leave myself enough time to actually do that, though. This morning I made the time. I was leaving to get to work early because one of my behavior techs was out today, meaning I needed to be prepped to the nth degree. As I left, though, I thought – go back and get your camera.

(this one is my second favorite of these shots. Scroll down for my very favorite)

So I did. While it would have been nice to have a sunrise, there is definitely something about the fog. Keeping in mind the lessons from the last time I shot fog, I upped the ISO in this instance. One of the things that I noticed while I was working in post-processing, was that due to the higher ISO and low-light (still no tripod so a long exposure isn’t totally possible for me right now), the images were really noisy. For the first time, I utilized LR’s noise reduction tools. I’m no exactly how well that turned out, but I could definitely tell a difference in the before and after.

My pelican friends were still hanging strong…although I do have to admit that the reason why they are so far away is because I was a little nervous about getting too close. The abandoned marina has a little boat house that has evidence of someone having spent quite awhile there recently. At that hour of the morning and with $1500 worth of camera equipment in my hands, I decided staying away from that particular spot was a good idea.

I really like the trees in the background kind of floating out of the mist and appearing there. I worked a little with trying to get them to pop out a little bit more, and I thin I could go back and do a little bit more with that.

As I get more conversant with post-processing, I’m enjoying trying out different styles, and in LR, that means playing around with presets, which I somehow have a ton (there are lots of them included with the 5 Day Deal and I’ve done that particular deal for the last year). I particularly like the way these photos came out – almost as if the rising sun is obscured by all the fog. Unfortunately, this preset because of the limitations of my skills with that particular application, didn’t work with all of my photos or I would have used it on all of them.

(I think this one is my absolute favorite. I think I got the composition right on this one)

I hope that you’ve had an outstanding week. Even with the extra day in our weekend here (due to the MLK holiday), there was so much to do. I feel like I’m never getting ahead. That’s OK, though, when there are mornings like this morning where everything comes together serendipitously. How are you handling the pressures of a new year with improving your photography practice? Let’s talk in the comments!

Photo Friday Link-Up

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Photo Friday link-up! I’m so glad you are here and I can’t wait to see what you have for us this week! I’m almost through all of last week’s entries, and let me say – as always…y’all blow me away! Great work, y’all!

I don’t know if you know this or not, but in two weeks, we will be celebrating the one year anniversary of this amazing community. I’ll be hosting a give-away in honor of the anniversary and to say thank you for all of you who make this the best link-up out there!

Thanks Cath! I’m frequently amazed when I get a good shot. It’s one of those pinch-me things. I’m looking forward to the day when I can go out & be confident that I’m going to capture something stunning rather than just hoping I will!

The photos came out nice! I feel like they give you a hint of the surroundings and let yo wanting more. Like you want that fog to see what is underneath. This year I am focusing on capturing more color and taking better food pictures.Ruth – Tanama Tales recently posted…Eating Tucson on a Food Tour

I think really what I’m looking for this year from my photography is a bit more automaticity – when I take a shot, I know what the settings should be & I know what it’s going to come out as. That & greater skill at post-processing. I have these powerful tools available; I want to learn how to use them.

Lovely fog photos. I have not been photographing as much this year because I have a distraction-my new kitten Skittles. Once she really settles in I will have more time but right now bonding with her is the top priority. (As she plays with my hands – a no no- while resting on my chest. I had to type this one handed)!.

Thanks Denyse! There are always so many scenes I see that I’d love to photograph…& not enough time. There’s a pond by my work that has gorgeous mist rising off it each morning but I’m never there in time to capture it (I don’t want to snarl the school traffic). One of these days all I will have to do is take photos 😉

These photos are amazing Jen. I’ve only just started out with Photography & as it’s the middle of Summer here in Tasmania I haven’t had a chance to try Foggy photos. I think my favourite is the 3rd one although they are all incredibleTony McGurk recently posted…Grassy Poles

I’m not too lazy but with being at work around 7:00, I don’t know how much earlier I can get up! My night-owl self already balks at the 5:00 alarm. I always think I’ll get up early in the weekends but I’m usually in recovery from the week lol!

Hi Jen, this is my first time here! Your shots are amazing! The dense fog makes them special.

I have a question. Could I list 2 posts? I do photography tips on Friday, but I also participate in Wordless Wednesday. Just wanted to check. You might smile at my post on photography tips. I talk about always taking my camera and that you might find me on the side of the road! Great minds!

I really love these pictures. The Pelican looks so lonely and sad, but I love the way you’ve made it look like that. (I’m sure it wasn’t lonely or sad at all) The composition of all these shots is fantastic. Such difficult conditions to use the camera in, and you’ve done superbly. I’m very jealous. I must try something like this myself.
Thanks for hosting, as always.

You’re right Adam – Sir Pelican had lots of friends around! I really love the way the fog totally changes this scene…although it certainly has that lonely, sad quality to it to begin with as the marina was heavily damaged in Katrina & hasn’t been repaired (although they are looking for a buyer! Maybe soon there will be lots of boats there!)

Oh, how I love fog (in photos). Now I cannot wait for autumn – oops. No, no, no – summer first 🙂 Good for you that you took your BGC and stopped to take these, they are gorgeous – a great reward for stopping, right?! My favorite one is the 3rd one, also a perfect composition. Maybe you can try your LR preset on it, too? Anyway, I don’t use presets, but I love LR. For standard, and more, editing it is my go-to.Claudia | ImagesByCW recently posted…I love this cloud reflection on the lake – icy and wonderful

Lol! Yes, summer first, although it will be here shortly & will encompass your autumn. 😉 One of the things that I find interesting about using presets is trying to figure out how they did what they did. I’m finding that it’s helping me understand how the effects are achieved and then how I can tweak those effects. I watched part of a webinar recently & learned lots of little tips and tricks (very little that I will probably remember!) Being able to really harness the power of LR is one of my goals for 2016!

Wow, Jen – these are incredible. Such moody photos and perfect for the way I’m feeling today. Your second favorite is the one I really love. So, light room and I aren’t really friends. I use the same settings for just about every photo, and I’m curious about the noise reduction tool. I’ve never used it and don’t even know where to find it. Can you elaborate? I have a photo that would be awesome except for the noise and I’d love to play around with it.

Your photos are stunning, as always. What time did you have to get up to shoot these? I have been meaning to do the same but am so not a morning person 😉 The way you have captured the pelican in the mist is amazing, beautiful yet errie. Thanks so much for hosting. PollyOur Seaside Baby recently posted…Winter Sunshine at the Seaside

I’m not much of a morning person either, Polly…although working for a living forces me to be. In order to get my morning pages done and consume enough coffee to not be a danger to myself and others on the road, I’m usually out of bed by 5:00 at the latest. I have to be at work by 7:30, which means that I’m usually leaving by 6:30 because it’s a half hour to work and there’s always things like copying to do. If I could live in a perfect world, I’d be up until 2:30 – 4:00 and then up around 9:00 each day.

These are beautiful Jen. I can definitely see why that particular photo was your favourite, it’s just so pretty with the fog in the foreground. Love seeing the pelicans again too, they’re such stunning birds! – TashaNatasha recently posted…Snow at Midnight

Thank you Tasha! I really love getting to live here – there is so much to see, do, and shoot! And those birds are always about 😉 I almost stopped tonight on the way home and shot them again because they were there as the mist was coming in. 😉

Thanks Shannon! Good things…big things…are coming here! Kinda frightened by the enormity of it, but I’m also really, really excited about the possibility. I don’t think that it’s going to be a quick thing, but I’m looking forward to doing the work.

Awwwww…you’re making me blush Becky! I’m always hoping to get better. One of my aims this year…other than to just get better…is to really think about the story I want to tell with my photos and the mood I want to convey with them. I think that is the harder part. It’s nothing to click the shutter; it’s another to be intentional about it. 😉

Thank you for joining us! the fog is rolling in again this evening, and I think that if it’s not raining too terribly in the morning, I might try to get out and about early enough to hit the lighthouse. Fingers crossed!

Thanks! One of the things that I really want to do this year, besides create a blogging photography empire, is really improve my photography. I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and really working on it and trying new things. It’s a little nerve-wracking but nothing ventured, nothing gained 😉

Thanks Ruth! Right now, I’m living for the summer. When I don’t have to work, I get to move to my own rhythms, which allows me do all the things I want to. I love my work, but it cramps my style a bit lol!

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I'm a teacher, writer, and photographer capturing the magical moments of life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast - putting my experience as a teacher and educational staff developer to work crafting stories that chronicle an experience well-lived.

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